Saturday marked 150 miles of walking as I stepped into the seventh county along the pipeline route. A heartfelt "Thank you!" to State Rep. Dan Kelley, D-Newton, and Kathy Holdefer (a landowner near Mingo), who each organized a meeting with landowners and other concerned Jasper County residents.

At a meeting at Uncle Nancy's on the Newton town square, Kelley spoke about his strong opposition to the pipeline. He has introduced legislation and also signed a letter from 15 lawmakers to the Iowa Utilities Board calling for an environmental impact assessment.

Kelley surprised me with a new angle that throws a whole new wrinkle into the pipeline conversation.

Apparently, no one had ever asked the Iowa Utilities Board's staff if there was another oil pipeline in Iowa. Kelley asked, and was told that there was, indeed, one other crude oil pipeline running through Iowa.

This pipeline travels north-south, roughly following Interstate Highway 35. It was built in the 1950s and is now owned by the infamous Koch Brothers. It was mothballed in 2013.

"I don't want an oil pipeline running through Iowa," Kelley said. "But if Dakota Access wants to build one, why tear-up farmland diagonally across Iowa when there's already an established right of way?"

This begs so many additional questions. Where did the oil transported through this pipeline come from? What was its final destination? Who were the original owners? How long have the Koch Brothers owned it? Were there ever any leaks or accidents? How many gallons a day did it move? Why was it abandoned in 2013? Why hasn't Dakota Access considered using this route?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Former Democratic State Rep. Ed Fallon is walking the route of a proposed oil pipeline in Iowa. Follow daily updates on his website, FallonForum.com.